 |
 |
 |
 
|
Amersham donkeys & ponies to stayA court has decided to suspend a court order to return the equines that we are caring forRedwings is relieved to be able to advise its supporters that last Monday a judge ordered a 'stay'. This means that the equines we have will stay with us pending a high court appeal against the original decision to return them. It was our wish that the equines stay with us at least until the trial was complete, and over 19,000 members of the public declared their agreement by signing an online petition to that effect. Whilst this decision does not mean that the equines are definitely with us until the court case is over, it does mean that the RSPCA can appeal against the judge’s original decision. Redwings wants what is best for the many hundreds of equines we care for regardless of origin so we welcome this news. We had to close the petition in time for it to reach the Ministry of Justice before the hearing took place at the beginning of last week. A huge thank you to everyone who signed it. However, if you did not get the chance or still feel you would like to do something to help, we have devised a sample letter for you to send to your MP, all you need to do is add their name and your details, then send it to the House of Commons. Click here to download the Word file >>>>>>>> On 9 January we were involved in a large rescue of horses from Buckinghamshire; we took in 21 horses, ponies and donkeys that day for veterinary care including donkey foal Esther. This was an RSPCA-led case involving local Police and other charities including the ILPH, the Horse Trust and the Blue Cross. All organisations concerned worked as a team, and Redwings was pleased to involve 30 of its staff and eight horseboxes. Five people are facing 12 charges relating to the Animal Welfare Act, and the pre-trial review for this court case will take place on 13th May (this was originally set for April 28th). We will continue to provide a home to the equines we have, and of course we will offer a permanent home if they are not returned. Following an initial decision in their favour in Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday 4 April, we understand that the equines’ owners asked for an emergency injunction on Friday 11 April to have the animals returned to them straight away. The High Court judge referred the decision back to the original presiding judiciary who last week ordered a ‘stay’ meaning that the equines we have will stay with us pending a high court appeal against the original decision to return them. Many of our supporters have called and sent emails, so we know you will be delighted at this news. The equines currently in our care are a combination of those ordered to be returned to the farm we collected them from and those ordered to be sold at auction. The donkeys we expected to return to the farm were Mary, Martha, Esther, Carmel, Leah, Deborah, Jemima & Caleb. Since arriving Mary gave birth to Timothy. The Shetland ponies are Pinocchio, Miss Muffet, Rapunzel, Gretel, Snow White, Elsie, Cinders & Thumbelina. Since they have been in our care and in the last few weeks, Elsie has given birth to a foal called Tinkerbell, Gretel also has a young foal at foot called Belle and last week Cinders gave birth to a beautiful little foal called Peter Pan. Redwings has a lot of experience in sending veterinary and horse handling staff, and vehicles, to rescue operations but this has been described by many of the 30 Redwings staff present on 9 January as one of the saddest cases that they have witnessed. Last week's news was a relief for all our veterinary, welfare, horse care, administration and management teams. Redwings’ two senior vets have between them over 35 years of dedicated equine welfare experience and have in this time encountered many complex cases. Their concern particularly extended to the donkeys, the most sensitive of equines. We thanked you in January from the bottom of our hearts for your words of support and encouragement, and we thank you again. As always, the future of these and all equines is our priority as it is yours. Thank you.
>back | 
    |
